Garment hanger attachment



Oct. 25, 1966 E. E. OPPENHEIMER GARMENT HANGER ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1963 24 Fig. 2

Fig./

Edwin E. Oppenheimer [iVV/ZNTOR. 401 3:

1966 E. E. OPPENHEIMER 3,281,028

GARMENT HANGER ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Oct. 50, 1963 Edwin E. Oppenheimer IA'I-YLNJ'OR.

United States Patent Oil-ice 3,281,628 Patented Get. 25, 1966 3,281,028 GARMENT HANGER ATTACHMENT Edwin E. Oppenheimer, RED. 3, Cambridge, Md. Filed Oct. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 320,142 3 Claims. (Cl. 22396) This invention relates to a novel and usefulgarment hanger attachment and more specifically to an attachment for frictionally gripping an article resting on the horizontal bar of a coathanger between the ends thereof. The garment hanger attachment of the instant invention comprises an elongated rod of a length greater than the horizontal bar of a coathanger and including means defining at least one laterally opening recess on one end thereof adapted to have the corresponding upstanding end of the horizontal bar of the coathanger seated therein. In this manner, an article may be hung over the rod with the latter placed alongside the bar of the coathanger and its opposite ends engaging the upright end portions of the horizontal bar of the coathanger and one of the upright ends of the bar seated in the recess to prevent axial shifting of the rod relative to the bar.

While conventional garment hangers such as coathangers and the like include horizontal members over which garments such as trousers and slacks may be hung, it is possible that the waist portion of the trousers or slacks hung over the horizontal bar of a coathanger will be sufii- -ciently heavier than the cuff portion thereof to cause the slacks or trousers to slide over the horizontal bar of the coathanger in the event the coathanger is jostled while a person is selecting other garments from a closet in which the slacks or trousers are hung. If the slacks or trousers do slide over the horizontal bar of the coathanger, they will most likely continue to slide until such time as they slide from engagement with the coathanger and fall to the floor. However, the garment or coathanger attach- 'ment of the instant invention has as its main object to provide a means whereby the garment supported by a coathanger and the attachment of the instant invention will be frictionally gripped in a manner preventing the garment from sliding over the horizontal bar of the coathanger and to the floor.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attachment in accordance with the preceding object which may be constructed so as to be adapted to function in its intended manner with various types and sizes of coathangers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment or coathanger attachment that may be readily supported from the associated hanger in an inoperative position when the hanger is not being used to support a garment.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attachment which lends itself to being manufactured out of numerous types of readily available materials.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a garment hanger in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together wit-h other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

instant invention operatively associated therewith and being utilized to frictionally retain a pair of slacks in their proper position on the coathanger;

FIGURE 2 is a further perspective view of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1 and showing the manner in which the attachment and garment supported thereby may be operatively engaged with the associated coathanger;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the attachment in an inoperative position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a conventional form of coathanger shown with a modified form of attachment operatively associated therewith and being utilized to support a pair of slacks;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the assemblage in FIGURE 6 and showing the manner in which the garment supported by the hanger and attachment may be removed;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the attachment illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a conventional form of hanger showing a still further modified form of attachment being utilized to support a pair of slacks from the associated hanger;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the assemblage illustrated in FIGURE 10 and showing the manner in which the pair of slacks may be removed;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the attachment illustrated in FIGUR-ES 10 and 11; I

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 13-13 of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged top plan view of the right hand end of the attachment illustrated in FIGURE 12.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of coathanger which includes a horizontal bar 12 terminating at its opposite ends in a pair of uprights 14 and 16, the uprights then terminating upwardly in upwardly convergent upper end portions 18 and 20 respectively whose free ends are twisted about each other as at 22 to form a neck portion. The free end of the upper end portion 18 projects upwardly above the neck portion 22 and terminates in a hook portion 24 for engagement with a suitable support rod 26.

The attachment of the instant invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 28 and may be seen to comprise an elongated rod 28 having a pair of opposite end laterally opening recesses 30 and 32 formed therein. The recesses 30 and 32 are spaced from the terminal ends of the rod 28 and define laterally extending shoulders 34 and 36 at their remote ends. The ad jacent ends of the recesses 30 and 32 terminate in lo-ngitudinally directed slots 38 and 40 respectively and the slots 38 and 40 are of a width to tightly frictionally receive the upper end portions 18 and 20 as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

It will the noted that the rod 28 is of a length greater than the distance between the uprights 14 and 16. Further, the recesses 30 and 32 define flat surfaces which face in the same direction and are adapted to abut up against corresponding sides of the uprights 14 and 16.

With attention now directed to FIGURE 2 of the drawings it may be seen that a pair of slacks 42 may be hung over the rod 28 after which one end thereof is grasped shown in FIGURE 7 Of the drawings.

by one hand while the other hand supports the neck 22 of the hanger 10. Then, the free end of the rod 28 is passed through the opening bound by the bar 12 and the upper end portions 18 and 20 until it is also possible to pass the other end portion of the bar 12 through this opening. Then, the rod 28 may be centered relative to the bar 12 and moved laterally into engagement with the uprights 14 and 16 in order that the uprights 14 and 16 are received in the recesses 30 and 32 respectively. In this manner, as can best be seen from FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the weight of the slacks 42 will retain the rod 28 in frictional engagement with the uprights 14 and 16.

'It Will be noted that the shoulders 34 and 36 will limit axial shifting of the rod 28 relative to the bar 12 thereby precluding any possibility that one end of the rod 28 could slip inside the opening between the uprights 14 and 16.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 6-9 of the drawings there will be seen a modified form of attachment generally referred to by the reference numeral 46. The attachment 46 includes a rod 48 which is very similar to the rod 28 in general configuration. However, the rod 46 includes a pair of opposite end laterally opening recesses 50 and 52 corresponding to the recesses 30 and 32 but which also open axially of the corresponding ends of the rod 46. The recesses 50 and 52 define shoulders 54 and 56 corresponding to shoulders 34 and 36 and the rod 46 can be seen to function in the same manner as the rod 28 with the exception that the shoulders 54 and 56 are formed on the adjacent ends of the recesses 50 and 52 and that the rod 46 does not include slots corresponding to the slots 38 and 40 for retaining the rod 46 in an inoperative out-of-the-way position.

With attention now directed to FIGURES -14'of the drawings there will be seen a still further modified form of attachment generally referred to by the reference numeral 60 and which includes only a single recess 62 which is spaced from one end of the rod 64 comprising the attachment 60. The rod 64 is tubular in configuration and may be constructed of any suitable inexpensive material such as cardboard or the like. The recess 62 is formed in the rod 64 by forming a cut 66 half-way through the corresponding end of the rod 64. Then, the adjacent portions of the rod 64 spaced inwardly of the slot or cut 66 are depressed radially inwardly. The cut or slot 66 therefore defines a shoulder Which is engageable by the corresponding upright 68 of the associated hanger 70.

When the rod 64 is constructed of cardboard material it may be seen that a relatively large cross-sectional area attachment may be provided while maintaining the total mass of the rod at a minimum. Further, it is also conceivable that suitable clips or the like defining oppositely opening slots corresponding to slots 38 and 40 could be secured in any convenient manner such as by tape or adhesive means to either of the rods 48 and 60 in order that they may also be supported from the associated coathanger in a raised inoperative position such as that illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

From a comparison of FIGURES 1, 2 and 6, 7, it may be seen that each form of garment hanger attachment disclosed herein may be utilized to clampingly engage a garment supported from the associated hanger and that a garment, such as the slacks 42, may be evenly hung after the attachment has been rotated approximately ninety degrees, it may be axially withdrawn from engage ment with the associated garment and coathanger as Further, each form of the attachment disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with substantially all types of conventional forms of coathangers and therefore may be packed in a persons suitcase for use at the persons destination in conjunction with the coathangers provided at that destination. Still further, each form of the attachment may also have indicia formed therein for advertising or other similar purposes.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous ,modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with an upright coathanger of the type including a horizontal bar with two uprights spaced longitudinally therealong, an article hanging attachment for frictionally gripping and supporting a flexible panellike article from said bar between said uprights, said attachment comprising an elongated rod free of any supporting connection with said hanger, said rod including means defining at least one recess on one end portion and opening laterally thereof and being of a length from said recess to the other end greater than the distance between said uprights whereby said article may be hung over said rod and said rod may be placed above said .bar with its opposite ends engaging said uprights, one of said uprights seated in said recess, and said article being looped over said rod and passed between said rod and said bar between said uprights, the portion of said article passed between said bar and said rod hanging down alongside of said bar on the side thereof opposite to the sides of said uprights engaged by said rod, said uprights including upwardly convergent upper end portions, both end portions of said rod including means defining a laterally opening recess, the adjacent ends of said recesses terminating in slots extending toward each other and in planes disposed generally normal to the lateral direction in which said recesses open and of widths adapted to frictionally receive therein said convergent upper end portions, said upwardly convergent upper end portions of said uprights being removably frictionally engaged and retained in said slots by the raising of said rod relative to said bar whereby said rod may be stored in a raised inoperative position on said hanger when not in use.

like article from said bar between said uprights, said attachment comprising an elongated rod free of any supporting connection with said hanger, said rod including means defining at least one recess on one end portion and opening laterally thereof and being of a length from said recess to said other end greater than the distance between said uprights whereby said article may be hung over said rod and said rod may be placed above said bar with its opposite ends engaging said uprights, one of said uprights seated in said recess, and said article being looped over said rod and passed between said rod and said bar between said uprights, the portion of said article passed between said bar and said rod hanging down alongside of said bar on the side thereof opposite to the sides of said uprights engaged by said rod, at least said one end portion of said rod being tubular, constructed of deformable material, and having a transversely extending and laterally opening cut formed therein, the portion of said rod disposed immediately adjacent said out and on the side thereof adjacent the other end portion of said rod being laterally inwardly displaced toward the remote side of said rod and defining said recess.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said inwardly 2,268,265 12/1941 Ruen 223-88 displaced portion of said rod is displaced inwardly of 2,488,621 11/1949 Finnell 223-91 the latter an amount greater than the wall thickness of 2,550,167 4/1951 Simmons 22388 the adjacent portions of said tubular end portion thereby 3,182,870 5/ 1965 Ward 22391 Communicating said recess with the interior of said tubu- 5 3,201,016 8/1965 Altorfer 22391 end Pomon- FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 123,675 3/ 1919 Great B ain- UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. 53;} gggfi gg G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN UPRIGHT COATHANGER OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL BAR WITH TWO UPRIGHTS SPACED LONGITUDINALLY THEREALONG, AN ARTICLE HANGING ATTACHEMENT FOR FRICTIONALLY GRIPPING AND SUPPORTING A FLEXIBLE PANELLIKE ARTICLE FROM SAID BAR BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHTS, SAID ATTACHMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ROD FREE OF ANY SUPPORTING CONNECTION WITH SAID HANGER, SAID ROD INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING AT LEAST ONE RECESS ON ONE END PORTION AND OPENING LATERALLY THEREOF AND BEING OF A LENGTH FROM SAID RECESS TO THE OTHER END GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHTS WHEREBY SAID ARTICLE MAY BE HUNG OVER SAID ROD AND SAID ROD MAY BE PLACED ABOVE SAID BAR WITH ITS OPPOSITE ENDS ENGAGING SAID UPRIGHTS, ONE OF SAID UPRIGHTS SEATED IN SAID RECESS, AND SAID ARTICLE BEING LOOPED OVER SAID ROD AND PASSED BETWEEN SAID ROD AND SAID BAR BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHTS, THE PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE PASSED BETWEEN SAID BAR AND SAID ROD HANGING DOWN ALONGSIDE OF SAID BAR ON THE SIDE THEREOF OPPOSITE TO THE SIDES OF SAID UPRIGHTS ENGAGED BY SAID ROD, SAID UPRIGHTS INCLUDING UPWARDLY CONVERGENT UPPER END PORTIONS, BOTH END PORTIONS OF SAID ROD INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING A LATERALLY OPENING RECESS, THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID RECESSES TERMINATING IN SLOTS EXTENDING TOWARD EACH OTHER AND IN PLANES DISPOSED GENERALLY NORMAL TO THE LATERAL DIRECTION IN WHICH SAID RECESSES OPEN AND WIDTHS ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY RECEIVE THEREIN SAID CONVERGENT UPPER END PORTIONS, SAID UPWARDLY CONVERGENT UPPER END PORTIONS OF SAID UPRIGHTS BEING REMOVABLY FRICTIONALLY ENGAGED AND RETAINED IN SAID SLOTS BY THE RAISING OF SAID ROD RELATIVE TO SAID BAR WHEREBY SAID ROD MAY BE STORE IN A RAISED INOPERATIVE POSITION ON SAID HANGER WHEN NOT IN USE. 